INactive Oscar

Question
About 4 days ago my Oscar started less movement and not feeding.  Usally feed pellets and feeders occasionally.  Today feeders did not interest him.  Levels in tank are high so vacumned, replaced ammonia reducer filter tonight.  He appears to be showing some grayish cover above mouth and on head.  He is about 4 years old and 8-19 inch, about 40 gal tank.

Answer
Hi Dave,
  I am very leery about feeding live feeder fish to oscars. Way too often, feeders are loaded with diseases that easily get transmitted to the oscar.  I get tons of questions each week from people whose oscars are sick or die from feeders.  I would stop feeding him feeders and see if you can get him to eat the pellets. Hopefully that will clear out his gut.

Some people have luck getting their oscar to eat thawed, frozen peas as a way to clear out the gut.  It is worth a try.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>